Published: Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.

In the midst of the businesses of Hendersonville, the hustle of traffic and the everyday activities happening inside homes, there is a soft babbling. Amidst the signs of development and progress are natural wonders, creeks and streams feeding into one another, making up the water supply and adding a green oasis in all the concrete.

On Saturday, more than 20 groups, representing a diverse collection of organizations, participated in the Big Sweep, a state-wide event to help clean up local waterways. The Environmental and Conservation Organization planned the event in the local community.

ECO has been working to organize the local Big Sweep efforts for more than a decade. David Weintraub, executive director of ECO, said more than 10,000 pounds of trash were removed from 25 miles of covered streams and creeks. Weintraub added they covered most of the Mud Creek watershed on Saturday.

About 250 volunteers pitched in including representation from the city of Hendersonville, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high schools and businesses. The groups are not just gathering trash, but looking at the status of the streams.

"They're also on alert for what's happening in these streams," said Weintraub. "What's most important is that it doesn't become a one-day affair."

Five Hendersonville High School students and their teacher worked on a portion of Mud Creek. In the span of two hours, they collected more than 14 bags of trash. There were seven tires, two DVD players, a few bean bag chairs, a hubcap and a wardrobe's worth of clothes.

Emily Darling, an earth science teacher at the school, helps with kids with the Outdoor Service Environmental Club. The kids wanted to give something back to their community, so they got involved in Big Sweep.

"Overall more environmental awareness," said Darling, when asked what she wants the students to get from the experience. "Being able to clean up the stream with our efforts."

"It's important for all the creeks to be cleaned out once in awhile," said Audra Schaefer, 14, a freshman.

"I just wanted to get involved with the school," said Alison Millette, 14, a freshman. "I wanted to start out doing something for the community."

The consensus among the highsschool students is the need for education about the waterways and the importance of keeping it clean.

"I just think its ignorance about what they're doing," said White. "It throws our community off balance in a way."

"If you look down here and see the amount of trash," said J.K. Hunt, 14, of people understanding their impact on the waterways.

The Hendersonville Rotary Club helped clean the portion of Mud Creek seen at the Mud Creek Wetlands Nature Walk on Seventh Avenue. With about 14 members, armed with trash bags, gloves, a few canoes and a determination to get as much trash as they can out, the group broke up to clean the portion of Mud Creek from Main Street to Seventh Avenue. The big find was a washing machine and a moped, both in Mud Creek.

"The trash comes from many Americans being very sloppy," said Frank Blazey, who headed up the Rotary Club group.

"There's nothing more important than what we're doing to take care of our water," said Joe Abrell. "One day water will be more precious than gasoline."

Weintraub explained Mud Creek watershed is in critical shape. He said it is considered the third worst watershed in the state. Mud Creek travels through the heart of downtown Hendersonville, he explained, passing near several industries, businesses and construction sites.

"We need to educate people," said Blazey. "Our whole community has to be conscious.

"We're basically at the top of the watershed," said Garrison. "(It's important) to enhance this area, it affects everything downstream."

From mopeds to washing machines, DVD players, beer bottles and soda cans, all sorts of trash found its way into the streams. Weintraub explained it isn't just about picking up trash. ECO wants to create an awareness of the waterways.

"Ultimately, what we hope comes out of this is people become stewards for our watershed," added Weintraub.

"Our mission is to protect and preserve our water sources. Mud Creek being a very important watershed," said Blazey.

<p>In the midst of the businesses of Hendersonville, the hustle of traffic and the everyday activities happening inside homes, there is a soft babbling. Amidst the signs of development and progress are natural wonders, creeks and streams feeding into one another, making up the water supply and adding a green oasis in all the concrete.</p><p>On Saturday, more than 20 groups, representing a diverse collection of organizations, participated in the Big Sweep, a state-wide event to help clean up local waterways. The Environmental and Conservation Organization planned the event in the local community.</p><p>"(Our goal is) awareness of our waterways," said Bill Garrison, the Henderson County Big Sweep organizer with ECO.</p><p>ECO has been working to organize the local Big Sweep efforts for more than a decade. David Weintraub, executive director of ECO, said more than 10,000 pounds of trash were removed from 25 miles of covered streams and creeks. Weintraub added they covered most of the Mud Creek watershed on Saturday.</p><p>About 250 volunteers pitched in including representation from the city of Hendersonville, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high schools and businesses. The groups are not just gathering trash, but looking at the status of the streams.</p><p>"They're also on alert for what's happening in these streams," said Weintraub. "What's most important is that it doesn't become a one-day affair."</p><p>Five Hendersonville High School students and their teacher worked on a portion of Mud Creek. In the span of two hours, they collected more than 14 bags of trash. There were seven tires, two DVD players, a few bean bag chairs, a hubcap and a wardrobe's worth of clothes.</p><p>"It's really inconsiderate," said Jesse White, 17, a senior at Hendersonville High.</p><p>Emily Darling, an earth science teacher at the school, helps with kids with the Outdoor Service Environmental Club. The kids wanted to give something back to their community, so they got involved in Big Sweep.</p><p>"Overall more environmental awareness," said Darling, when asked what she wants the students to get from the experience. "Being able to clean up the stream with our efforts."</p><p>"It's important for all the creeks to be cleaned out once in awhile," said Audra Schaefer, 14, a freshman.</p><p>"I just wanted to get involved with the school," said Alison Millette, 14, a freshman. "I wanted to start out doing something for the community."</p><p>The consensus among the highsschool students is the need for education about the waterways and the importance of keeping it clean.</p><p>"I just think its ignorance about what they're doing," said White. "It throws our community off balance in a way."</p><p>"If you look down here and see the amount of trash," said J.K. Hunt, 14, of people understanding their impact on the waterways.</p><p>The Hendersonville Rotary Club helped clean the portion of Mud Creek seen at the Mud Creek Wetlands Nature Walk on Seventh Avenue. With about 14 members, armed with trash bags, gloves, a few canoes and a determination to get as much trash as they can out, the group broke up to clean the portion of Mud Creek from Main Street to Seventh Avenue. The big find was a washing machine and a moped, both in Mud Creek.</p><p>"The trash comes from many Americans being very sloppy," said Frank Blazey, who headed up the Rotary Club group.</p><p>"There's nothing more important than what we're doing to take care of our water," said Joe Abrell. "One day water will be more precious than gasoline."</p><p>Weintraub explained Mud Creek watershed is in critical shape. He said it is considered the third worst watershed in the state. Mud Creek travels through the heart of downtown Hendersonville, he explained, passing near several industries, businesses and construction sites.</p><p>"We need to educate people," said Blazey. "Our whole community has to be conscious.</p><p>"We're basically at the top of the watershed," said Garrison. "(It's important) to enhance this area, it affects everything downstream."</p><p>From mopeds to washing machines, DVD players, beer bottles and soda cans, all sorts of trash found its way into the streams. Weintraub explained it isn't just about picking up trash. ECO wants to create an awareness of the waterways.</p><p>"Ultimately, what we hope comes out of this is people become stewards for our watershed," added Weintraub.</p><p>"Our mission is to protect and preserve our water sources. Mud Creek being a very important watershed," said Blazey.</p>